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Rutgers School of Dental Medicine

Newark, NJ

Dental Schools | Public Non-Profit

Overall, applicants ranked the school in the top 21% of interviews, indicating it is highly regarded. They found the interview mixed with a low stress level, and felt they did well.
⭐ Overall Impressions

How did the interview impress you?

Most respondents felt positively about their interview.

What was the stress level of the interview?

Most respondents rated their interview as low stress.

How you think you did?

Most respondents thought they performed well at the interview.

How do you rank this school among ALL other schools?

Most respondents rank this school above all other schools.

How do you rank this school among other schools to which you've applied?

Most respondents rank this school above other schools they applied to.
0 = Below, 10 = Above
💬 Interview Questions

What is one of the specific questions they asked you?

The most commonly asked interview questions at medical schools were about shadowing experiences, stress management, qualities relevant to the profession, extracurricular activities, personal interests, reasons for choosing dentistry, academic performance, manual dexterity, research experience, and specific school preferences. The interviews varied from casual conversations to specific inquiries, with a focus on understanding applicants' backgrounds, motivations for pursuing dentistry, and their fit for the program. Some respondents mentioned a conversational MMI format with questions related to nondisclosure agreements.

What was the most interesting question?

Students said most interesting question asked at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine discussed a variety of topics from specific experiences on the application to personal interests like travel, music, and hobbies. Some respondents mentioned a conversational approach, while others were asked about their motivations for pursuing dentistry and the reasons behind academic or career shifts.

What was the most difficult question?

Students said most difficult question asked at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine discussed various topics such as past experiences shaping their current selves, academic challenges like low grades or specific course performances, reasons for choosing dentistry over medicine, and their commitment to the school if accepted. Some respondents mentioned being asked about multiple mini interviews (MMI), schools they interviewed at, and nondisclosure agreements, indicating the interview format may have included MMIs and confidentiality agreements regarding the questions asked.
🤝 Interview Format and Logistics

How long was the interview?

Most respondents had an interview of 20 - 30 minutes.

How many people interviewed you?

Most respondents were interviewed by 1 person.

What was the style of the interview?

Most respondents had a one-on-one interview.

What type of interview was it?

Most respondents had an open file interview.

Was this interview in-person or virtual?

Most respondents had a virtual interview.
Data includes both pre- and post-COVID interviews.

Where did the interview take place?

Most respondents were interviewed at the school.
📍 On-Site Experience

Who was the tour given by?

Tours were most commonly given by a Faculty member

How did the tour guide seem?

Most tour guides were enthusiastic about the school.

How do you rank the facilities?

Most respondents rank the facilities as above average.

What is your in-state status?

Most respondents rank the facilities as below average.

What were your total hours spent traveling?

Most respondents spent 0-1 hour traveling to the interview.

What was your primary mode of travel?

Most respondents traveled by automobile to the interview.

About how much did you spend on room, food, and travel?

Most respondents spent less than $100.

What airport did you fly into?

Respondents who flew to the interview generally used Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)

Where did you stay?

Most respondents stayed either Hotel or at a hotel.

How would you rate the hotel?

Most respondents rated their hotel as good.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great

Would you recommend the hotel?

Most respondents would recommend their hotel.

What is your ranking of this school's location?

Most respondents rate the school location as average.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great

What is your ranking of this area's cultural life?

Most respondents rate the area’s cultural life as average.
0 = Bad, 10 = Great

What are your comments on where you stayed?

No responses
✅ Interview Preparation and Impressions

How is the friendliness of the admissions office?

Most respondents said the admissions office was friendly.

How is the responsiveness of the admissions office?

Most respondents said the admissions office was responsive.

How did you prepare for the interview?

Applicants commonly prepared for the interview by reading resources like SDN, conducting mock interviews, reviewing their application materials, and researching the school's website. Many focused on formulating thoughtful answers to common questions and understanding their motivations for pursuing dentistry and attending the specific school.

What impressed you positively?

Applicants were overwhelmingly impressed by the friendly and welcoming staff, faculty, and students at the school, as well as the new and modern facilities. They appreciated the relaxed and conversational interview experiences, the emphasis on clinical education, and the strong sense of community at the school. Suggestions were scarce, with only one applicant mentioning nothing negative.

What impressed you negatively?

The most common feedback shared by applicants is that the negative impression was primarily related to the location of the school in Newark, with concerns about safety, the surrounding area, and limited activities. Suggestions included improving security measures, providing more information about the area to prospective students, and possibly offering more on-campus resources to mitigate the impacts of the neighborhood.

What did you wish you had known ahead of time?

Applicants commonly expressed that they wished they had known ahead of time that the interviews would be very relaxed and stress-free. They mentioned the importance of not stressing, being themselves, and arriving early for the interviews. Additionally, some noted challenges with finding parking and navigating the campus, and emphasized the need to prepare for a laid-back interview experience.

What are your general comments?

Applicants generally found the interview process at UMDNJ to be relaxed and conversational, with interviewers focusing on making candidates feel comfortable and providing insights about the school. They appreciated the friendly and welcoming atmosphere, as well as the opportunities to ask questions and engage in discussions about the program, facilities, and faculty.
  • Bad area but great school
  • The interview occurs first so it makes the rest of the day a lot easier to pay attention for the presentations.
  • It was my first interview, so I was so nervous. No need! Everyone was super nice.
  • The whole interview was more of a conversation.
  • I get really bad stomach pains when I'm nervous, and BOY was I nervous. There is no need to be nervous. When I got there, it was all the interviewees sitting in a conference room eating breakfast and talking with 4th year dental students. It was incredibly relaxed, and everyone was so nice and eager to help you out. Around 9am, the interviewers (usually professors) come and call your name while everyone talks and waits to be called. I went with the professor to a large room with some tables, and we just sat down and talked for around 30 mins. He even let me keep drinking my tea since I had just gotten it when he called me. Basically, just relax, it's not bad at all. There was no set list of questions he was reading from, he apparently wrote some comments from my application and used them as talking points. Make sure to address any strong points of yours if they don't ask you directly. There were a lot of opportunities where we could have ended the interview if I didn't start talking about something else. Chiiiiill, you're going to do great!

What are your suggestions for the admissions office?

Applicants commonly suggest offering scholarships, improving organization and cleanliness during interviews, providing lunch instead of breakfast, and conducting tours before interviews for better engagement and preparation. They also appreciate the emphasis on financial aid and the personal touch in the admissions process.